Friday,
April 22, is Earth Day. Now in its 46th year,
Earth Day is described as, "a movement that continues to inspire, challenge ideas, ignite passion, and motivate people to action." Wow! That sounds a lot like Christianity. In addition to events for the day, organizers are asking people to do "the bight stuff" like plant 7.8 billion trees and create 100% renewable cities. That sounds like more than just attending an Earth Day rally - it sounds more like a way of living.

This Sunday, we will include in the worship experience our deep commitment to creation. You will notice it in our Collect - the prayer we use to collect ourselves for worshipping together, in the hymns sung as an offering to God, in our Eucharistic prayer as we gather around the table, and in the reflection about Scripture. We are delighted to have Farley Lord Smith, a vestry member and choir singer, preaching at the
11:00 service.

Most of all I hope you will notice our profound and abiding love for creation is more than just a day. As Christians, how we treat the earth and one another says so much about how we see God working in our lives. I continue to be reminded that when we have something that brings us joy we put it in a place of honor where we can share it with others. Imagine a world where we always viewed the earth and the creatures (human and otherwise) in it as gifts from God. While I admit I wish some of the people in my life came with gift receipts so I could make an exchange or return, I realize those same folks help me stretch and grow in ways I couldn't otherwise. Perhaps that is what it means to see Earth Day and Christianity as more than labels but ways of living?

We are doing much at Epiphany to live what we preach. We are deepening our Christian commitment to the earth and our fellow human beings through dedicated recycling, important resource management, strengthening relationships, honoring our sacred space, and intentional prayer. After Pentecost, look for our Coffee & Conversation topics to turn toward stewardship of creation and what we can do as individuals, families, and a parish to further care for our the earth, our island home. Most of all I hope you will join me in focusing on the created world and our fellow travelers as gifts from God so that (!) we can be Christians who inspire, challenge, ignite and motivate the world. Not just one day but every day.

Gather to explore the essential elements of Christian life and life at Epiphany Parish. Open to all, especially those preparing for confirmation or baptism.

April 24- Prayer

May 1- History

May 8- Discipleship

Joint Service for Pentecost

Pentecost is a special day in the church where we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit. To honor that day and building on the success of Palm Sunday, the vestry suggests another joint service at 10:00am. We will have singing and prayers at 8:00am and our Welcome Table programming will remain the same. However, we will combine our services of Holy Eucharist so that we can worship together as a parish community. Please join us at 10:00am on Sunday, May 15 for a Pentecost Celebration followed by a parish picnic. To volunteer at the service or for the picnic, please contact Elizabeth Gardner at egardner@epiphanydc.org or by calling the parish office.

Support Episcopal Relief and Development efforts in Ecuador & Japan

Last weekend, both Ecuador and Japan were hit by devastating earthquakes. The death toll in Ecuador has risen to 600 and people in both countries are faced with major damage and displacement. You can support Episcopal Relief and Development's efforts to assist these countries by donating to the International Disaster Response Fund. You can also read a statement from the Bishop of Ecuador Litoral here.

May 14- Cathedral Confirmation

The Diocese of Washington will hold a confirmation service at the Washington National Cathedral on May 14. If you are interested in exploring confirmation, please contact
Elizabeth or
Catriona.

Calling Committee Communique

Help Needed: We need your help to further explore and define what we hope the Church of the Epiphany will be like in the next phase of our journey as a faith community. Will you join the Calling Committee and your fellow parishioners in a neighborhood fellowship gathering? We'd love to have you! To participate, please contact Sandi Ingram (singram810@aol.comor 202-746-4491). We plan on holding the groups between now and Pentecost (May 15th, 2016), and look forward to exploring some of the themes and questions that emerged from our parish survey. You can review the results of this survey here. We'd also like to thank our guest chef, Susan Weinbeck, who prepared a scrumptious meal for this week's meeting. Thank you for feeding our bodies and souls with this gift! This nourished us in our work of finalizing two of the narrative questions for the diocese. We now have nine more to tackle...

Gracious God, we pray for this parish church and for the Calling Committee as we seek to call a new Rector. Help us to be strong, open, forgiving -- and truthful to those discerning a call to minister in this place. Accompany us on our journey in the knowledge of your love for us and your power to unite us all. AMEN

Volunteer Opportunities

Fellowship and service can be found in all aspects of life at Epiphany.

To volunteer in worship, with Welcome Table programs, Street Church, the Tuesday Concert Series, contribution counters, or any other ministries contact the Parish Office. 202-347-2635. Explore the work of the people on our
website.

Godly Play

Godly Play looks at the Circle of the Holy Eucharist this Sunday
. Miriam Sohlberg will tell the story.

Music & The Arts

Tuesday Concert Series

On April 26 at 12:10pm The Beau Soir Ensemble
performs a varied program for viola, flute, and harp. Visit Facebook and tell us you're coming!

We need your help to improve the Tuesday Concert experience! Please click here to take a brief survey about the TCS.

Upcoming Guest Performances

April 22, 2016, 7:30pm- The Imitative Game

Presented by the Choral Arts Society of Washington's Choral Arts Chamber SingersThis concert highlights the beauty and complexity of counterpoint through a wide range of repertoire spanning multiple centuries. Now in their second season, the Choral Arts Chamber Singers continue to expand Choral Arts' mission by exploring the richness and variety of chamber music. For more information and tickets, please visit the Choral Arts
website.

April 30, 2016, 7:00pm- Honor and Majesty: Music of Bach and HandelPresented by ChoralisEnjoy a concert that highlights works by the giants of Baroque music. With a stunning cast of soloists and the Baroque specialists Three Notch'd Road, the program will include Handel's Dixit Dominus, Let the Bright Seraphim, and The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba, as well as Bach's Christ lag in Todesbanden, BWV 4, Nun ist das Heil und die Kraft, BWV 50, and Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, BWV 1050, along with a few surprises! For more information and tickets, please visit the Choralis website.

May 1, 2016, 7:00pm- Catholic University of America University Singers

Presenting Magnitude and Melody: Britten's Rejoice in the Lamb and Bernstein's Chichester Psalms. For more information, please visit the CUA Benjamin T. Rome School of Music website.

More than 120 singers take the stage to present a concert featuring Rock classics including, "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and "Stairway to Heaven," as well as a medley of Rock & Roll "Oldies" and hits by Elvis and Frankie Valli

May 12, 2016, 7:30pm- With A Song in My Heart

Presented by Encore Creativity's The Capital Encore Chorale

Encore: Creativity of Older Adults returns with a concert featuring the romantic music of Rodgers and Hart, blues favorites by Hoagy Carmichael and a medley from the Broadway show
Guys and Dolls.

Please note that all of Epiphany's guest artists and ensembles handle their own ticket sales. Please contact the respective individuals/ensembles for ticket sales and information pertaining to these concerts.